Johnson Introduces Legislation Defending Religious Expression

Rep. Mike Johnson (LA-04) introduced H.R. 6213, the History and Tradition Protection Act of 2018, to combat the abuse of the Establishment Clause, which was intended to serve as a shield for people of faith, but has been twisted and perverted into a powerful weapon to be used against them. The bill has 34 original cosponsors.

Rep. Johnson released the following statement:

“Religious symbols and expression are deeply embedded in the history and tradition of our country, but for more than a half-century, radical secularist organizations have engaged in an aggressive campaign of fear, intimidation and disinformation in their quest to rid the public square of all religious symbols, history and expression. We must protect the principles on which our nation was founded. My legislation will ensure activists can no longer profit off the abuse of our laws, so we can better protect the religious liberties of all Americans.”

Background
Johnson’s bill abolishes the award of monetary damages and attorney fees in Establishment Clause cases where a plaintiff complains of (1) any monument, memorial, statue, or other figure containing religious words, imagery or symbolism, (2) a public building containing religious words, imagery or symbolism, (3) the presence of religious words, imagery or symbolism in official seals and flags, or (4) religious expression in the context of the proceedings of any deliberative body.

Johnson’s bill removes the extraordinary financial incentive for radical secularists and their lawyers to feign “offense” and advance their agenda.